YEAR 10 MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINATIONS

Next Thursday, 9th May, the NSW Public Health Unit will be coming to the school to deliver the Meningococcal Vaccination to students in Yr 10. Meningococcal is a serious disease that usually causes meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Rare forms of the disease include septic arthritis (joint infection), pneumonia (lung infection) and conjunctivitis (infection of the outer lining of the eye and eyelid). People with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell very quickly. Five to ten per cent of patients with meningococcal disease die, even despite rapid treatment. More information can be found at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/meningococcal_disease.aspx 

The vaccination is offered to all students in Yr 10. This will take place at school during the day and is free of charge. Students were this week issued an Parent Information Kit containing information about the vaccine as well as a consent form. Further information can be found at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/schoolvaccination.aspx Students are asked to get the consent card completed and return to school (either their HR teacher or the front office) by Tuesday 7th May. Please note to complete the consent card the sections on the first 3 pages need to be filled in as indicated. Spare Information Packs with Consent Forms can be collected from the front office.

Students will be allocated a time through the day to receive their vaccination. Students that have already planned appointments are asked to let me know ASAP so alternate times can be arranged for them throughout the day. Students highly anxious about receiving the vaccination are encouraged to inform us so we can make suitable arrangements to support them. Students are to wear their sports uniform to school on the day and are encouraged to bring bottled water with them at their allocated vaccination time.

Students not receiving the vaccination are asked to return the Parent Information Pack (including the consent form) to the front office along with a note explaining the reason for not receiving the vaccination. This will be passed on to the Public Health Unit for their records.